Last week, I had lunch with my friend, Hideki, and he mentioned that he’d recently put together a list of “things to do in and around San Francisco”. Hideki and his wife live in San Francisco so this list started as things they want to do, or things they tell their friends to do when they visit. What started as 50+ ideas from Hideki, has grown to 100 with some additions from Kevin and I. It’s a perfect list to share with friends who are planning a trip to San Francisco, but I also love the idea of keeping this list handy for those wide open weekends when we’re looking to play tourist ourselves.
\\ Photo courtesy of Vero Suh Photoghraphy //
- Bike Across the Golden Gate Bridge
- Alcatraz Night Tour
- Hiking in Muir Woods
- Elevator Ride to the Top of Coit Tower
- Sailing in the Bay
- Cable Car Ride
- SF Giants Game
- Gilroy Garlic Festival
- Drive Hwy 1 to Big Sur
- Wine Tasting in Napa/Sonoma
- Ferry Building Farmer’s Market
- Irish Coffee at Buena Vista Cafe
- Santa Cruz Boardwalk
- Drive Down Lombard Street
- Ice Cream Sundae at Ghiradelli’s
- Shopping Spree in Union Square
- Vodka Tasting at Hangar One
- Union Street Festival
- See a Movie at Kabuki Theatre
- Bay to Breakers (in costume)
- Visit Safari West
- Afternoon Tea at the Palace Hotel
- St. Patrick’s Day Block Party at Irish Bank
- Chinese New Year Parade
- Off the Grid
- Touch Hopper’s Hands
- Eat an Authentic Mission Burrito
- Oktoberfest at Fort Mason
- Visit Fisherman’s Wharf, but only to look for Bush Man
- Palace of Fine Arts
- Beach Blanket Babylon
- Gilroy Outlets
- Oakland Warriors Game
- Pride Parade
- GoCar Tours
- Eat Dim Sum (here or here)
- Kayak in McCovey Cove
- Hike Land’s End
- Bundle Up for a Visit to Baker Beach
- Segway Tour
- Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Patch
- Picnic in Dolores Park
- North Beach Festival
- Experience Indian Summer in September/October
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Experience SantaCon
- Obtain the Password for a Drink at Bourbon & Branch
- Berry Picking in Half Moon Bay
- Union Square Christmas Tree Lighting
- Take a Ferry to Sam’s in Tiburon
- See a Broadway Show
- Stern Grove Festival
- House of Air
- Movie in the Park
- Glass Elevator to the top of the Westin
- Tour Anchor Steam Brewing Company
- In-N-Out Burger (order off the secret menu)
- Attend a Castro Theatre Sing-a-Long
- DeYoung Museum
- Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon (watch or participate)
- See a Show at the Fillmore
- Eat SF’s Best Chicken Wings at Kezar Pub
- See the “Full House” Houses (aka “the Painted Ladies”)
- San Francisco Zoo
- Bowling at Presidio Bowl
- Maverick’s Surf Competition
- Japanese Tea Gardens at Golden Gate Park
- Al Fresco Dining in Belden Lane
- SF Beer Festival
- San Jose Sharks Game
- Eat Chinese Food in Chinatown
- City Lights Bookstore
- Academy of Sciences Museum
- Shark Diving at Farallon Islands
- Outsidelands
- NASCAR Race at Infineon Raceway
- Golf at Pebble Beach
- Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
- 49er’s Game
- Drinks at Cavallo Point
- Climb the Lyon Street Stairs
- Fleet Week – Blue Angels Air Show
- Fillmore Jazz Festival
- Visit the Mystery Spot
- Walk Along the Embarcadero and Enjoy the Views
- Alameda Flea Market
- Pho Challenge at Pho Garden
- Attend SF Chefs in Union Square
- Get a Spa Treatment at Nob Hill Spa
- Whale Watching
- Oakland Raiders Game
- SF MOMA
- Get (or watch someone get) a Tattoo on Haight Street
- Oakland A’s Game
- Volunteer at the SF Food Bank
- Shuck Oysters at Hog Island Oyster Co.
- Dip Your Toes into the Freezing Cold Pacific at Ocean Beach
- Black and White Ball
- BBQ on Angel Island
- Visit enough to know it’s not San Fran, “the” BART, or “the” MUNI
It’s impossible to fully capture all of the amazing things to do in this city, but it’s a start. Thanks for sharing, Hideki! So what else? What did we miss? What are some of your favorites?
great list – sad that “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass” didn’t make the cut
Hmmmmmmm. Many of the items on this list have NOTHNG to do with San Francisco. Gilroy is easily an hour away. So many great places in San Francisco were not mentioned only to have things like Oakland, Pebble Beach (1-1/2 hours away) spotlighted.
Hi Barbara…you’re right! 🙂 That’s why I titled the post things to do in “and around” San Francisco. It’s simply meant as a starting point for people looking to travel to San Francisco, with the possibility for some day trip adventures. Just thought it was a fun list to share…and certainly not meant to be exhaustive! Feel free to leave other suggestions in the comments if you have favorite sights or activities to share!
Number 29. Sadly, Bush Man passed away this year. 🙁 But Fisherman’s Wharf is still a great place to wander around.
Hi Jaime…I was so sad to hear that news recently! He was such a fun addition to the Wharf. I need to get that updated, but I’m also sad to remove him. 🙁
Actually, only one of the 2 Bushmen passed away – the other is still there.
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I would just like to say that I love your list! I’ve been to SF many times in the past and am extremely happy to have found your list of different things to do for my upcoming trip! Great job, thank you!! =]
Great list! Makes me want to catch the first plane to our “favorite destination” asap! We have been there several times and the amazing energy gets better every time.. Thanks for posting your list…we will definitely be trying the things we haven’t done on future visits!
Jana Carr, St. Paul, MN
Ich weiß nicht. Ich denke mittlerweile -und aus Erfahrung in anderen Zusammenhängen- das es vielleicht am zielführendsten wäre, dem groben Klotz einen mindestens genauso groben Keil entgegenzusetzen. Das ständige Hinnehmen, Ignorieren, ein bischen protestieren, beschwichtigen und die den Ühaelegrnbeitswehn bestätigende Apologetik bringt jedenfalls absolut gar nichts.
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